Orthodontics is the diagnosis, avoidance and cure of dental and facial irregularities. This specialty field of dentistry offers alteration for people with an uneven or "bad" bite, also known as a malocclusion.

Orthodontic care involves the use of remedial appliances, usually braces. These corrective appliances can be used to:

· Crowding — If there is not sufficient space for the teeth, if the teeth are unusually big compared to the size of the dental arch or if the jaw is narrower than it should be, enduring teeth may not have sufficient space to move into the right place.

· Deep overbite — This occurs when the upper front teeth (incisors) overlap extremely over the lower teeth. In some cases, the biting edges of the upper teeth touch the lower front gum tissue.

·Underbite — A cross bites of the forward front teeth is usually referred to as an under bite where the lower teeth are ahead of the upper teeth.

·Open bite — If your upper and lower front teeth don't meet when you bite down, this is referred to as an open bite. Because the front teeth don't share evenly in the biting force, the back teeth may be subjected to too much pressure. This makes chewing less able and can lead to premature wear of the back teeth.

·Spacing problems — some people have missing teeth or strangely small teeth compared to the size of their dental archway. If the size of the jaw is normal, this can result in large spaces between the teeth. People who have lost one or several teeth may have uneven spacing because adjacent teeth may drift into the vacant areas.

Most orthodontic treatments occur in two phases:

The active phase — This involves the use of braces or other appliances to move the teeth into proper position and accurate the bite.

The retention phase — This involves the use of a retainer to hold the teeth in their new position for the long term.

In addition to braces, orthodontists use special appliances to direct the growth of the jaw in young children. These appliances are rarely used in adults.

Getting Braces

You can choose between braces made of metal, ceramic or plastic. Though, orthodontic treatment generally is done using stainless steel brackets. Ceramic or plastic brackets often are chosen for cosmetic reasons, but plastic brackets may stain and discolor by the end of treatment. Bands made of plastic or ceramic also have more friction between the wire and brackets, which can increase treatment time.

Risks and Limitations of Orthodontic Care

In rare cases, certain patients may have allergic reactions to the metal or latex.

People with periodontal problems, such as people with type 1 diabetes, are more likely to have complications during orthodontic treatment because they may be inclined toward the breakdown of gum and supporting tissue.

In such people, there is an increased risk that orthodontic treatment may jeopardize the long-term integrity of affected teeth.